Traffic Engineering Specialist – Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $120,000 - $175,000/annually, based on experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date Location & Schedule The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. In this position you can expect to work three (3) days in office. For your in-office days, you can expect to work at or near the Webb Municipal Building (201 W. Colfax Ave., CO 80202). Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days. Who We Are & What You’ll Do The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), through its employees, enhances the quality of life in Denver by efficiently delivering effective, high quality, safe and equitable public infrastructure, and services. For more information, please visit the DOTI website. DOTI’s Commitment to Equity: DOTI is committed to providing attention and resources to the areas, assets, and people of the city with the greatest need through equitable contracting, equitable investments, and equitable workforce development. DOTI’s culture revolves around four key principles: (1) Invest in Our People, (2) Operate with Discipline, (3) Use Data to Drive Decisions, and (4) Deliver Results. The Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) is seeking two highly motivated and experienced professionals in the transportation industry to serve as either: Director, Transportation Mobility Engineering Division Traffic Engineering Specialist, Transportation Mobility Engineering Division This job application is for the Traffic Engineering Specialist within the Transportation Mobility Engineering Division. The Director position can be found here. Both are pivotal positions within DOTI’s Transportation Business Unit and incorporate duties associated with the City Traffic Engineer as set forth in Division 2. – City Traffic Engineer, Revised Denver Municipal Code. The title of City Traffic Engineer for the City and County of Denver, within the DOTI, is appointed by the Executive Director of DOTI. The Traffic Engineering Specialist plays a pivotal role as a key staff member and specialist within DOTI that is responsible for helping ensure the safety, performance, and reliability of Denver’s multimodal transportation system. This position provides high-level technical expertise, engineering judgment, and strategic guidance, and coordinates the development and implementation of transportation safety programs, mobility policies, and engineering solutions aligned with Vision Zero and the Safe Systems approach. This position helps support Transportation leadership core decisions regarding strategic direction, organizational and operational needs, including guidance and review of Division budget, performance reporting, business planning, and cross-departmental collaboration. In addition, this position supports leadership in the development of engineering policies, requirements for complex infrastructure projects, guiding multimodal engineering decisions, and representing DOTI in internal and external settings. The key responsibilities of the Traffic Engineering Specialist include: Leadership & Representation Serve in a delegated capacity as the City Traffic Engineer or associated duties. Support the develop and implement comprehensive citywide transportation and safety policies, standards, and strategies for people walking, rolling, riding bikes, accessing transit and driving. Represent the division in senior-level meetings, interagency coordination, and public forums. Identify systemic safety risks and direct corrective engineering, operational changes, and multidisciplinary safety actions. Navigate complex stakeholder environments using strong communication and political judgment. Traffic Engineering & Operations Provide high-level technical review and engineering guidance for multimodal design, signal timing concepts, corridor safety analyses, and development plan approvals. Guide technical decisions across all phases of project development, from planning through final design and construction. Oversee and approve major street closure requests and coordinate traffic management with internal and external partners. Decision making that supports long-term operations, maintenance and asset health. Ensure compliance with MUTCD, AASHTO, ADA, state law, and the Denver Revised Municipal Code. Event & Incident Management Lead or advise on operational strategies for major events, emergencies, and specialized traffic management needs. Support citywide crash and incident investigations and identify corrective engineering actions. Policy Development & Program Support Draft and refine engineering policies, standards, and procedures such as speed limit methodologies, mitigation practices, and multimodal guidance. Advance shared streets policy, multimodal accessibility, and emerging transportation innovations. Staff Mentorship & Organizational Culture Provide mentorship and technical coaching without formal supervisory duties. Promote collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Examples of Work Support DOTI in technical reviews, stakeholder meetings, policy discussions, emergency response, and event-related planning. Provide advanced technical review for major development projects, multimodal corridor designs, regional transit interfaces, and complex interchange projects. Guide traffic management planning and operations for major construction projects, utility work, large-scale events, and professional sporting activities. Provide expert analysis and documentation for NEPA processes and major capital programs. Mentor engineering and planning staff across DOTI and partner agencies, offering technical coaching and situational leadership. Lead or contribute to policy development including speed limit methodologies, mitigation protocols, design standards, and traffic impact study guidance. Review construction phasing, maintenance of traffic (MOT) plans, and design submittals. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on multimodal guidance, multimodal safety practices, and emerging mobility concepts. What You’ll Bring Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics: Strong technical background in traffic engineering, multimodal design, transportation engineering and delivery. Comprehensive knowledge of federal, national, state, and local engineering standards and policies. Ability to provide high-level technical leadership on complex multidisciplinary projects. Excellent communication skills and comfort engaging with diverse stakeholders. Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex or contentious issues. Experience working in matrixed, cross-departmental environments. Commitment to equity, accessibility, and multimodal mobility. Ability to build productive relationships with internal teams, partner agencies, community groups, and elected officials. Deep knowledge of multimodal design, traffic operations, construction sequencing, and MOT. Strong interpersonal and consensus-building skills. Forward-thinking, innovative approach to emerging mobility practices. Review and inform emergency or special-event traffic management in coordination with public safety agencies.

Requirements

• Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Architecture.
• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience at the type and level of a Senior Engineer or Senior Architect.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for experience requirements.
• License/Certifications: By position, requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
• Requires registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) by the Colorado State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers at the time of application.
• Or requires registration as an Architect by the Colorado State Board of Registration at the time of application.
• Registration in another state will be accepted in lieu of this requirement, provided that the applicant has Colorado registration at completion of probation.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Strong technical background in traffic engineering, multimodal design, transportation engineering and delivery.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, national, state, and local engineering standards and policies.
• Ability to provide high-level technical leadership on complex multidisciplinary projects.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort engaging with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex or contentious issues.
• Experience working in matrixed, cross-departmental environments.
• Commitment to equity, accessibility, and multimodal mobility.
• Ability to build productive relationships with internal teams, partner agencies, community groups, and elected officials.
• Deep knowledge of multimodal design, traffic operations, construction sequencing, and MOT.
• Strong interpersonal and consensus-building skills.
• Forward-thinking, innovative approach to emerging mobility practices.
• Review and inform emergency or special-event traffic management in coordination with public safety agencies.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Representation Serve in a delegated capacity as the City Traffic Engineer or associated duties.
• Support the develop and implement comprehensive citywide transportation and safety policies, standards, and strategies for people walking, rolling, riding bikes, accessing transit and driving.
• Represent the division in senior-level meetings, interagency coordination, and public forums.
• Identify systemic safety risks and direct corrective engineering, operational changes, and multidisciplinary safety actions.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments using strong communication and political judgment.
• Traffic Engineering & Operations Provide high-level technical review and engineering guidance for multimodal design, signal timing concepts, corridor safety analyses, and development plan approvals.
• Guide technical decisions across all phases of project development, from planning through final design and construction.
• Oversee and approve major street closure requests and coordinate traffic management with internal and external partners.
• Decision making that supports long-term operations, maintenance and asset health.
• Ensure compliance with MUTCD, AASHTO, ADA, state law, and the Denver Revised Municipal Code.
• Event & Incident Management Lead or advise on operational strategies for major events, emergencies, and specialized traffic management needs.
• Support citywide crash and incident investigations and identify corrective engineering actions.
• Policy Development & Program Support Draft and refine engineering policies, standards, and procedures such as speed limit methodologies, mitigation practices, and multimodal guidance.
• Advance shared streets policy, multimodal accessibility, and emerging transportation innovations.
• Staff Mentorship & Organizational Culture Provide mentorship and technical coaching without formal supervisory duties.
• Promote collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director